In late July and August 2025, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) aspirants and coaching teachers protested in Delhi over cancelled shifts, crashing systems and distant centres in the Selection Post Phase 13 exam, the first run by new vendor Eduquity Career Technologies. A "Delhi Chalo" protest on 31 July and a Ramlila Maidan protest on 24 August ended in detentions; protesters alleged a lathicharge, which Delhi Police denied. The SSC refused to cancel the exam but re-tested about 76,000 candidates and postponed the CGL exam.
Key takeaways
- The SSC Selection Post Phase 13 exam, held from 24 July to 1 August 2025 for about 5 lakh candidates, was hit by cancelled shifts, software crashes, biometric failures and wrong centre allotments.
- On 31 July 2025 aspirants and teachers answered a "Delhi Chalo" call; protesters say police lathi-charged and detained teachers, and at least one FIR was filed.
- On 24 August 2025 police detained 40 to 44 people at Ramlila Maidan after the permitted hours ended. DCP Nidhin Valsan said "No lathicharge was done by police"; protesters and opposition leaders said force was used.
- SSC Chairman S Gopalakrishnan admitted operational and technical errors, ruled out cancelling the exam and promised fixes; the SSC later said 76,153 candidates were given re-examinations.
Background: a new vendor and the Phase 13 exam
The SSC recruits staff for central government departments. From July 2025 it switched to a new exam conducting agency, Eduquity Career Technologies, and split question preparation among several content agencies, according to SSC Chairman S Gopalakrishnan Tribune. Eduquity replaced Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) LiveLaw.
The first big exam under the new agency was Selection Post Phase 13, held from 24 July to 1 August 2025 at 194 centres in 142 cities. About 5 lakh candidates appeared Careers360.
What candidates complained about
Reports from the exam window described abrupt cancellations, software crashes, biometric verification failures and wrong centre allotments Careers360. The SSC itself cancelled the exam at Pawan Ganga Educational Centre 2 from 24 to 26 July "due to administrative reasons" and moved those candidates to 28 July onwards. A first shift at Educasa International in Hubli was called off over a technical glitch.
Candidates also said they were sent to centres as far as 500 km from home. At one centre, candidates said they were kept writing a 5 pm shift until about 9:30 to 10 pm, and bouncers were present Careers360. Claim · Protesters Aspirants said bouncers were deployed to silence students who raised concerns PTI via The Week.
Under the hashtag #SSCMisManagement, aspirants demanded a new vendor Free Press Journal Careers360.
Delhi Chalo: 31 July and 1 August
On 31 July 2025 students and teachers answered a "Delhi Chalo" call and gathered at Jantar Mantar and the CGO Complex Dynamite News. Popular coaching teachers, referred to by students as Rakesh Sir, Neetu Ma'am and Abhinav Sir, went to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) office and were stopped at the gates. Police suggested they move to Jantar Mantar, which they rejected The420. A delegation of teachers and aspirants met the SSC chairperson that day Wikipedia.
A teacher at the protest said officials had admitted receiving over 55,000 complaints about the exam PTI via The Week.
Claim · Protesters Videos circulated of police using lathis on the crowd, and many of those hit were teachers Careers360. Teachers said police put them in a DTC bus and drove them around the city for hours without telling them where they were going The420. Police detained several students and teachers, including educator Neetu Singh, and at least one FIR was filed against detained protesters. The protest continued into a second day on 1 August Newslaundry. One outlet reported the DoPT gate episode ended without violence The420. No detailed Delhi Police statement on 31 July was found in the reporting reviewed.
The SSC's first response
SSC's position The chairman admitted to mismanagement, including technical glitches and far-off centres. He said the exam would not be cancelled, but a retest may be held for candidates unable to appear or complete the test because of technical or administrative issues Careers360 Free Press Journal. The SSC wrote to Eduquity asking it to address the issues reported during the test window. Re-exams were held on 2 August in three shifts Careers360.
Ramlila Maidan, 24 August
A second protest was held at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Police said permission was given from 10 am to 5 pm. Estimates of the crowd vary widely: police said about 1,500 attended PTI via The Week, PTI described over 1,000 aspirants and teachers PTI via The Week, and one report, citing officials, said over 15,000 took part Free Press Journal.
Some protesters stayed past the permitted time and were detained at night. The DCP put the number at 40 PTI via The Week; other reports said 44 The Logical Indian Tribune.
A team from The Lallantop was also detained. Valsan called it a misunderstanding and said the journalists were mistakenly picked up with protesting students. The outlet disputed this, saying police seized their press cards, mic and camera Newslaundry.
Timeline
Phase 13 begins
First major SSC exam run by Eduquity opens at 194 centres; cancellations at some centres follow Careers360.
Delhi Chalo
Aspirants and teachers gather at Jantar Mantar, the CGO Complex and the DoPT office; detentions follow Newslaundry.
CGL postponed
CGL Tier 1, set for 13 to 30 August, is postponed, freeing 29 August for the Phase 13 retest Careers360.
Ramlila Maidan detentions
40 to 44 people detained after the permitted hours; police deny a lathicharge PTI via The Week.
Fresh exam for affected candidates
Three special shifts for about 55,000 to 59,000 candidates Careers360 Tribune.
Both accounts of 24 August
Protesters' account
One aspirant said protesters were dragged down from the stage and attacked by police in civil dress. A woman protester, Aahana, said women were harassed after police cut the power at night: "Our clothes were torn, we were sledged, and we were harassed in the dark." PTI via The Week. Ram, the aspirant in whose name permission was granted, also alleged at a press conference that teachers "hijacked" the agitation; another protester said teachers arrived with bodyguards and took the microphones Newslaundry.
Police account
DCP (Central) Nidhin Valsan said "No lathicharge was done by police." Police said the protest was allowed to run peacefully during permitted hours, nearly 100 people refused to leave after warnings, 40 were detained and the rest left. Police said five personnel, including three women constables, were injured, and that permission for 25 August was withdrawn because the organisers broke their undertaking PTI via The Week.
Neither account has been independently verified in the reporting reviewed, and no inquiry into the police action was reported.
Not just shameful, but the hallmark of a cowardly government.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, on the action against SSC aspirants, 25 Aug 2025 (Free Press Journal)
Rahul Gandhi's remarks were widely reported Free Press Journal. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who called the use of force "inhuman and shameful", also condemned it Outlook. The NSUI demanded a high-level inquiry into SSC mismanagement and vendor accountability Tribune.
The chairman admits errors
SSC's position After the Ramlila protest, Chairman S Gopalakrishnan acknowledged operational and technical errors at a press conference. He said bugs had caused duplication and repeated options, and promised special exam shifts, better IT security and more centres. He said exam agencies and content providers work under strict service level agreements with "deterrent penalties" for shortfalls Tribune. He also said CGL 2025 would be held in a single shift with centres within 100 km of candidates Adda247.
No change of vendor was announced in the reporting reviewed. When CGL Tier 1 began around 12 September 2025, the first two days were again hit by glitches, with cancellations reported at centres in Delhi-NCR, Gurugram and Jammu Careers360. A Tier 1 re-exam for affected candidates was held on 14 October 2025 Careers360 Hindi.
The Supreme Court petition
On 4 September 2025 a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar issued notice to the Centre and the SSC on a petition by Nikhil Kumar, with 28 October as the next date Tribune. Claim · Petitioner The petition alleged poor infrastructure and malfunctioning systems in the Phase 13 and Stenographer exams run by Eduquity. It sought a court-appointed committee to oversee future SSC exams including CGL 2025, cancellation and re-conduct of the affected exams, an independent inquiry into the award of the tender, binding SOPs and compensation LiveLaw SCC Online. These are the petitioner's allegations; no finding on them was found.
Outcome
- Exam: Not cancelled; re-exams on 2 and 29 August 2025 for 76,153 candidates in all, per SSC.
- Result: Declared 5 February 2026, with 67,543 shortlisted for the next stage PracticeMock ProJobAlert.
- Detentions: Several on 31 July; 40 to 44 on 24 August.
- Injuries: Alleged by protesters; police reported five personnel hurt on 24 August.
- Cases: At least one FIR against protesters after 31 July.
- Vendor: SSC wrote to Eduquity; no replacement reported.
- Court: Supreme Court notice issued 4 September 2025; no final order found.
Where it stands now
In a reply to the Central Information Commission reported in September 2026, the SSC said it had no specific data on how many candidates were affected by centre changes, cancellations and technical failures in Phase 13, even though 76,153 were given re-examinations. It said: "Since EC-2 has no role in changing the examination centres of candidates, no data is available in this regard." Careers360/PTI. The outcome of the Supreme Court petition and of the FIRs against protesters was not found in the reporting reviewed.
Questions people ask
Why did SSC aspirants protest in 2025?
They protested over the Selection Post Phase 13 exam held from 24 July to 1 August 2025, citing cancelled shifts, software crashes, biometric failures and centres far from home. Many blamed the new vendor, Eduquity Career Technologies, and demanded its removal.
Was there a lathicharge at Ramlila Maidan?
Protesters and opposition leaders said yes. DCP Nidhin Valsan said "No lathicharge was done by police" and that 40 people were detained after refusing to leave when the permitted hours ended. Other reports put the number detained at 44.
Was the SSC Phase 13 exam cancelled?
No. The SSC ruled out cancelling it and held re-exams on 2 August and 29 August 2025. It later said 76,153 candidates were given re-examinations. The result was declared on 5 February 2026.
Sources
- Careers360: SSC Phase 13 exam 2025 cancelled at multiple centres due to technical, administrative glitches, Jul 2025
- Careers360: "Do SSC exams even have a point?" Thousands affected, demand new vendor, Aug 2025
- PTI via The Week: "What are bouncers doing at exam centres?" Aspirants descend in Delhi, 31 Jul 2025
- Free Press Journal: #SSCMisManagement trends as students and educators protest, Jul 2025
- Dynamite News: Anti-SSC protests in Delhi, 31 Jul 2025
- The420: Teachers take a stand against SSC mismanagement, Aug 2025
- Wikipedia: Staff Selection Commission exam controversies, accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Careers360: "Batons instead of answers": teachers, students lathi-charged, Aug 2025
- Newslaundry: As SSC protest enters Day 2, aspirants point to "uncertainty", 1 Aug 2025
- Careers360: SSC may hold retest, rules out exam cancellation, Aug 2025
- Free Press Journal: SSC rules out cancellation of Phase 13 exam, Aug 2025
- PTI via The Week: Police deny use of force against SSC aspirants at Ramlila protest, say 40 detained, 25 Aug 2025
- PTI via The Week: SSC aspirants allege police excesses, teachers' hijack of protest, 25 Aug 2025
- Free Press Journal: Over 15,000 SSC aspirants protest at Ramlila Maidan, Aug 2025
- The Logical Indian: Delhi Police detain 44 amid alleged lathi charge, Aug 2025
- Tribune: SSC aspirants protest at Ramlila Maidan, chairman admits errors, promises fixes, Aug 2025
- Newslaundry: Lallantop team detained while covering SSC protest, 25 Aug 2025
- Newslaundry: Some teachers tried to ruin movement, claim students, 26 Aug 2025
- Free Press Journal: "Hallmark of cowardly govt": Rahul Gandhi slams Centre, 25 Aug 2025
- Outlook: Congress slams Centre over alleged lathi charge, Aug 2025
- Tribune: NSUI condemns lathicharge on SSC aspirants, Aug 2025
- Careers360: Fresh exam on August 29 for 55,000 candidates, Aug 2025
- Adda247: CGL 2025 in single shift, centres within 100 km, Aug 2025
- Careers360: SSC CGL 2025 day 1-2 exams cancelled in multiple centres, Sep 2025
- Careers360 Hindi: SSC CGL re-exam on 14 October, Oct 2025
- Tribune: SC seeks Centre's response on plea for streamlining SSC recruitment tests, 4 Sep 2025
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court issues notice on plea seeking transparent conduct of SSC exams, Sep 2025
- SCC Online: Irregularity in SSC exams, Supreme Court issues notice, 5 Sep 2025
- Careers360 Hindi: SSC Phase 13 result 2026 released, Feb 2026
- PracticeMock: SSC Selection Post Phase 13 result out, Feb 2026
- ProJobAlert: SSC Selection Post Phase 13 result, Feb 2026
- Careers360/PTI: No data on candidates affected by centre changes, tech failures: SSC, 21 Sep 2026